HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2018-10-09
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado October 9, 2018
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town of
Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in the
Board Room in said Town of Estes Park on the 9th day of October, 2018.
Board: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Walker, Trustees Bangs,
Cenac, Martchink, Norris and Zornes
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator
Machalek, Town Attorney White, Police Chief Kufeld, and
Recording Secretary Beers
Absent: None
Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2019 VISIT ESTES PARK OPERATING PLAN.
Mayor Jirsa and Trustee Cenac met with two members of VEP on October 3, 2018 and
discussed the operating plan, budget and strategic plan. The Board discussed the
timeline for approving the operating plan which would require approval by December 5,
2018 and the ramifications if the Board does not meet this deadline.
Board discussion followed and has been summarized: Concerns over the distribution of
a different budget than was presented in the operating plan; discrepancies in the
actuals; the operating plan is not clear and does not state the focus, and the need for an
operating plan which meets the needs of both boards. The Board directed Mayor Jirsa
and Trustee Cenac to share concerns with VEP regarding the operating plan revisions
prior to the review at the November 27, 2018 Town Board meeting.
NOISE ORDINANCE.
Attorney White presented a memo dated October 7, 2017 which provided a history of
the noise ordinance modeled off the state statue and decibel based. The noise
ordinance was established to address neighborhood noise for properties adjacent to
vacation homes. He stated the State of Colorado does not enforce noise ordinance
violations in court utilizing decibel meters, deeming them not reliable instrument in
measuring noise. He further stated municipalities have moved away from decibel-based
readings to utilizing a common man noise ordinance as a method for determining
unreasonable noise. The Town added an amplified music standard of 82 decibels to
determine unreasonable noise for outdoor music. Chief Kufeld reviewed the process for
issuing a citation for a noise violation which requires the reporting party to testify in court
stating the noise was disrupting their quality of life. A reporting party has yet to agree to
testify as such. He recommended removing the amplified music standard of 82 decibels
and rely on the unreasonable standard. Additionally, he recommended an expansion of
the unreasonable noise definition to include: any excessive or unusually loud
sound/noise which disrupts the peace, quiet, health, comfort or repose of a reasonable
person of normal sensitivities with an addition of intensity and duration of noise; or loud,
unreasonable, unusual, penetrating or boisterous noise, disturbance or condition which
annoys, disturbs or injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace and quiet
within Town limits. Town Attorney White recommended changing outdoor amplified
music to outdoor amplified sound. He added violations can be considered during the
renewal process for liquor licenses.
Board discussion followed and has been summarized: Concerns regarding the ability to
enforce the ordinance; the established allowance of amplified outdoor music based on a
time parameter of 11:00 pm may need to be revised to an earlier time; and the benefits
Town Board Study Session – October 9, 2018 – Page 2
of establishing a number of noise violations which the Board would address during the
renewal for a liquor license.
The Board requested staff change the noise ordinance by strengthen the sound
language, removing the decibel reading under amplified music standard, change the
language to read outdoor amplified sound, and review the compliance standards.
TRUSTEE & ADMINSTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
Mayor Jirsa received a recommendation from a local contractor requesting to meet with
the Building division staff to discuss streamlining the permit process and simplify
procedures. The Board directed staff to consult with the contractor and discuss process
options.
Town Administrator Lancaster requested Board feedback on the support of two
initiatives on the November 6, 2018 ballot. After further discussion, the Board agreed to
proceed with individual or multiple Board member support for each initiative rather than
through a resolution of support by the Board as a whole. Additionally, in the future the
Board would consider support for items which directly affect the Town.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
The Board agreed to schedule the Introduction to Water Rates Study Process for
discussion at the December 11, 2018 study session. The Presentation of the Stanley
Park Master Plan was scheduled for the January 8, 2019 study session. Social Media
Archiving and the Stormwater Management Program and Utility – Results from Public
Outreach discussions would be held at the January 22, 2019 study session. The Street
Improvement Plan was scheduled for the February 12, 2019 study session.
There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
Bunny Victoria Beers, Recording Secretary